Photo By Sgt. Christina Clardy | Thirty-two members of A Company, 636th Military Intelligence Battalion, 71st...... read more read more
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NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – A small detachment of service members of the Texas Army National Guard bid farewell to their families, friends, and community during a mobilization ceremony Monday, April 27, 2015 at the Mckenna Event Center near their hometown armory in New Braunfels, Texas.
The detachment of 32 military intelligence Soldiers from A Company, 636th Military Intelligence Battalion, 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, are headed to Kosovo for a nine-month deployment. They will be supporting NATO’s continued peacekeeping efforts to help and maintain a safe and secure environment for the people of Kosovo.
“Our mission in Kosovo is peacekeeping,” said Maj. Eric Hutchins, commander of the detachment. “Many have gone before us, and have enabled 1.8 million Kosovans to live free from persecution and violence. I am honored to be leading these amazing men and women forward, and it is not a privilege I take lightly.”
Although the unit boasts a combined overseas service of more than 40 years, several of the Guardsmen will be deploying for the first time.
“I’m pretty excited because it’s my first one -- I’ve been looking forward to it,” said Spc. Terryll D. Brunson, an intelligence analyst and native of Prince George, Va. “We have been preparing and training for this mission for over a year. Once there, we’ll be analyzing political, demographical and ideological data about the climate of the region to aid in the stabilization and continued peacekeeping in the area.”
This mission is part of the United Nations-led peace support operation called Kosovo Force, an international effort created on June 12, 1999, to build peace and stability in the area.
“Some people spend their entire lifetime wondering if they are making a difference in the world,” said Hutchins during his ceremonial address. “But these Soldiers won’t have to.”
More than 100 community leaders, supporters and family members gathered at the event center for the ceremony. Representatives from several large companies within the New Braunfels community, city officials to include Mayor Barron Casteel, and local veteran and military support organizations met with the Soldiers and their families to thank them and give them their warm wishes until they return home safely.
“We want to show that the post is committed to the support of our active and veteran service members,” said Daniel S. Campos, commander of the VFW Post 7110 in New Braunfels. “We want to send them letters and care packages, and want to work with the unit and the community to create symbolism, like signs and banners, to support them and their service within the post and the community until they come back safely.”
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2015 12:14 |
| Story ID: | 161780 |
| Location: | NEW BRAUNFELS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 624 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, New Braunfels Guardsmen head to Kosovo for peace mission, by SGT Christina Clardy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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